A word of praise to Al Raphael for his recent letter to The Valley Reporter. I have been trying to figure out where the need for these water projects is and looking for someone to explain in simple language how these needs arose, who determines them, etc.

I had no feelings about their desirability one way or another, but in the continued absence of an explanation, I more and more became skeptical of their need. Nick Harmon wrote an excellent letter which raised similar questions, and Al Raphael's letter capped it all, asking if this trip was necessary.

Let's hope we are not deluged with further applications for what seems to be an unnecessary project saddling the residents with millions of dollars for something we do not want. I have asked repeatedly for the names of those persons who are pushing this project, and what their motivation is? Can someone please let me know, and other readers of The VR know, the names of the people who are behind this $15 million or even more project. What is the mystery?

Gerald W. Hilly

Waitsfield

P.S. Al Raphael's letter hit the nail on the head. And, frankly, the whole idea of these water projects and extremely expensive bond issue should have been treated in depth by The Valley Reporter. That is what newspapers are for. One can't help think that the silence of The VR was predicated on the hope that the less publicity given to this extremely expensive project, the better its chances for success. G.W.H.

Editor's Note: Mr. Hilly was offered a tour of The Valley Reporter's archives for a firsthand look at the paper's extensive coverage of the municipal water and wastewater projects over the past 10 years. He has not yet responded to the offer.